Senate panel backs measure to designate private university officers as peace officers

The Georgia Senate Public Safety Committee voted unanimously to report Senate Bill 565 favorably after testimony that private university police lack parity with other responding agencies. The bill would identify post‑certified officers who work for private universities as "peace officers," clarifying they have the same law‑enforcement powers and, the sponsor said, access to corresponding protections including qualified immunity while performing their duties.

The sponsor introduced the measure as a clarification prompted by an active‑shooter response that involved multiple agencies. An Emory University police chief (not named on the record) testified that about 300 officers from 33 agencies responded to the incident near the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and that DeKalb County officer David Rose died during the response; the chief said Emory officers who crossed property lines lacked the civil and criminal protections that other officers enjoyed.

"We were doing things sort of procedurally that were a little different, and I couldn't understand why — because we were private. We didn't have these protections," the chief said, arguing for legal parity so university officers can act without disproportionate legal exposure. The sponsor told the committee the bill simply grants those officers the same designation as other peace officers while they serve on campus.

Sen. Williams moved the committee to report the bill favorably; Sen. Payne seconded. The committee approved the motion by unanimous voice vote, and the measure will go to the Rules Committee for further consideration.